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AIBU?

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Original poster

Crater-like wound on my leg turning black - what the hell is this (see pic)

368 replies

Bitworriedtbh · 14/06/2023 23:13

Just as the title suggests! I got bitten last week, have no idea by what but it was itchy and the first day my leg was swollen and quite hard. Well now it’s turned into a small crater-like wound that feels really deep. It looks like a dark brown/black scab on it but I’ve tried lifting it a little and it’s like stuck in my leg, it looks hard but I’m sure it’s not actually a scab. When I tried to lift it (unsuccessfully) the skin around the wound peeled off. I have never had a bite end up like this! Any thoughts on what this is and whether it’s something that’ll heal on its own? Don’t want to bother the GP if it’s nothing!

Excuse the hairy legs and tattoo :D

OP posts:
Alstoybarn · 15/06/2023 06:13

Get tweezers on the sticky out bit and pull it fully out. It's a bot fly lavae. It'll be huge and fat when you pull it out.

Purplepeaches123 · 15/06/2023 06:30

lemonchiffonpie · 15/06/2023 01:31

This is exceptionally bad advice.

Show quote history

Completely agree. Sometimes bites get like that. I’d just keep it clean. There is no evidence of a tick! The absolute most I’d do is go to the pharmacy and ask a pharmacist .

Tiswa · 15/06/2023 06:35

I would ge that checked out by the doctor. I had something similar and needed antibiotics

TheHandbag · 15/06/2023 06:55

If you've been pooing blood and have that nasty bite turning black, I'd get medical advice straight away.

Billyho · 15/06/2023 06:57

I’d seek medical attention

lljkk · 15/06/2023 07:02

Pharmacist was my 1st thought, & go with what they advise.

I pulled a tic off me yesterday. They don't go from bite to what OP has at such speed.

Gettingbysomehow · 15/06/2023 07:02

An NhS podiatrist and see leg and foot wounds everyday but I haven't seen one like that!!! That needs a swab there may be an abcess under there. Id go to your GP surgery right away. Let us know what it is.

Labradoria · 15/06/2023 07:06

Alstoybarn · 15/06/2023 06:13

Get tweezers on the sticky out bit and pull it fully out. It's a bot fly lavae. It'll be huge and fat when you pull it out.

Yes I thought this but didn't want to say! I bet it is.

Lacucuracha · 15/06/2023 07:14

Bloody hell I’d have been at the GP when it was just a tiny red dot.

Hope the clinician called you back.

pilates · 15/06/2023 07:14

I would go to pharmacist first but think they will recommend you to go to A&E. Don’t try and do anything yourself you could make it worse.

ThickSkinnedSoWhat · 15/06/2023 07:19

I don't really see the point of the post. Everyone said go to A&E. 111 said go to A&E, but you aren't going.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/06/2023 07:19

How are things OP.

Dancingcandlesticks · 15/06/2023 07:24

Late to the party but - A&E!!

ElizabethBest · 15/06/2023 07:34

It looks like a false widow bite? Some people can react to them badly so worth getting checked in case.

FancyFanny · 15/06/2023 07:38

Looks more like a chicken than a leg!

maidmarianne · 15/06/2023 07:42

oatmilk4breakfast · 15/06/2023 06:02

Was just coming to say could it be a false widow spider bite. There are more of them now due to warmer weather. They are one of the few spiders with a venomous bite here that can make you feel ill. Is it also a bit numb?

Ewww, when I had a big crater like bite like this it was numb. I had no idea I'd been bitten until in the evening when i saw it and I couldn't feel it at all.
Does that mean it was a spider bite? 😱

Tessisme · 15/06/2023 07:43

FancyFanny · 15/06/2023 07:38

Looks more like a chicken than a leg!

Idiot.

I really hope you went to A&E, OP. It's getting worse, not better. That is definitely a cause for concern. Don't take any chances.

Emotionalsupportviper · 15/06/2023 07:46

It does look like a tick. If you've picked up an immature one they look like a tiny, flat spidery thing and only get "tick-like" with their first feed. I could easily have gone unnoticed. Somehow it seems to have got infected, though. Was it itchy? Did you scratch it?

Emotionalsupportviper · 15/06/2023 07:48

Oh - and yes. A&E - If it is a tick, and it hasn't fallen off by then they will take it off. Don't try to shift it yourself in case you leave the mouthparts in, which will make it worse. You will probably need antibiotics.

Emotionalsupportviper · 15/06/2023 07:49

Alstoybarn · 15/06/2023 06:13

Get tweezers on the sticky out bit and pull it fully out. It's a bot fly lavae. It'll be huge and fat when you pull it out.

Oh my word - I never thought of that. Worse than any tick. Hope you've been to A&E, that's very nasty.

FlamingoQueen · 15/06/2023 07:51

I don’t know what it is, but hopefully you will get it seen today.

Stickybackplasticbear · 15/06/2023 07:56

I think it could be bot fly too. I was also concerned your skin was turning black. Glad it's a tattoo! I'd say try to see the gp ASAP today. Hope you can call to get an appointment before the assessment and then go to the gp later today.

Maia77 · 15/06/2023 08:01

Looks like cellulitis. It's an infection in deeper layers of skin and you can get it from an insect bite. My husband gets it from mosquito bites. You need antibiotics, because it can spread and cause sepsis.

Voerendaal · 15/06/2023 08:07

Please go to hospital and get that checked. With you not feeling well that is a red flag for sepsis. Please stop reading mumsnet and go. For what it is worth I am an icu nurse with 35 years experience. I haven’t read the whole thread as I did not want to waste your time.

Iris1976 · 15/06/2023 08:10

Sounds very much like the spider bite my friend was describing to me yesterday. I'd get it looked at too